Community must engage youths to halt brainwashing COMMENT
the insides of parked cars with torches. An officer told one concerned member of the public they were carrying out extended searches “just to be on the safe side.”
The suspect was quizzed by antiterror police at the port before being driven away in a convoy of cars with flashing blue lights at 12.30pm.
Last night he was being held at a secure South London police station.
Kevin Rodgers, 58, a retired Kent police officer, was up a ladder decorating the outside of his house above the entrance to the port at the time of the drama.
He said: “We saw three unmarked cars with their blue lights flashing drive out of the port at speed towards the A2.”
THREAT
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, Senior National Co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said: “We have made a significant arrest in our investigation this morning. Although we are pleased with the progress made, this investigation continues and the threat level remains at critical. The public should remain vigilant as our staff, officers and partners continue to work through this complex investigation.
“We’re not, at this time, changing our protective security measures and the steps taken to free-up extra armed officers remain in place.
“This arrest will lead to more activity from our officers. For strong investigative reasons we will not give any more details on the man we arrested at this stage.” RADICALISATION is a problem in Britain. We’ve seen attacks from young British Muslims and we’ve seen how young people have travelled to Syria because they’ve been brainwashed into thinking this is what Islam requires them to do.
In reality extremism has nothing to do with the true teachings of Islam.
But it’s not simply the fact these people are being brainwashed.
Since the financial crisis, this issue of radicalisation has actually increased, so you have to look at these individuals’ financial stability, as well as what kind of education they’ve received and what kind of people they are dealing with.
Increasingly the only image of Muslims people see is also one of hate, violence and terrorism. That puts questions in people’s minds and over time that changes to hostility. That in turn will make Muslims feel more marginalised.
Often if young people have any questions about their religion, they turn to social media for answers, and the internet is where the danger lies.
It is up to Muslim communities to engage their youth. They need people they can look up to, who can help them with the right answers to their questions.